Locals rally lawmaker over debt ceiling

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Washington's blame game over the debt crisis has turned into a war of words. President Barak Obama and Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner took to the airwaves Monday night urging taxpayers to get involved. And on Tuesday, they did.

Snagging a spot in the shade, small-business owner Ron Coldiron closed up shop for a few hours to rally outside Congressman Michael McCaul's Austin office .

"By God, these guys are going to destroy our economy, so I'm out here trying to get some attention,” Coldiron said, expressing his concern over the nation’s finances with a sign about job loss.

He and dozens of other concerned citizens took the president's call to action seriously.

"I just hope that this doesn't cause a major crisis in the country and send us spiraling into a depression,” said Lana Castle.

While some sweated the triple-digit weather outside, others packed inside and heated up the debt ceiling debate. Tax talk, social security and outrage at both parties' lack of agreement.

"We're not here to argue with you,” one woman told another protester. “We're here to talk about the issues with our representative."

From Washington, McCaul, R-Texas, took notice of what was happening back at home.

“The bill I expect we will vote on tomorrow denies President Obama his $2.4 trillion blank check and increases the debt limit by only a portion of what he requested – through next February, not through the 2012 election," he said in a statement.

McCaul said he also expects the bill to include cuts that exceed the debt hike, caps to control future spending, no tax increases and a balanced budget amendment.

"Frankly, a balanced budget amendment would work miracles in curbing Congress's appetite for spending taxpayers' dollars,” said Cindy Mallette.

As for Coldiron, he wondered if it's even worth the work break, unsure Wednesday's vote will bring compromise.

"They can end this today,” he said.